For years, Coloradans have been waiting and hoping for a solution to the congestion that slows the mountain corridor of Interstate 70 to a crawl during peak hours.

Colorado Department of Transportation executive director Don Hunt explained recently that a recently floated idea to create a bus rapid transit and tolled express lane to that beleaguered section of I-70 was quite a long way from reality.

Hunt told the Denver Post editorial board that a number of procedural decisions and hurdles have to be overcome before any plan to alleviate I-70 mountain traffic can be pursued.

The idea of running a rail line along the highway still must be thoroughly examined, as would any proposal to add tolled express lanes.

"We would have a lot of work to do to move forward with an idea like that," Hunt said.

Hunt also discussed the rationale behind increasing to three the minimum number of passengers required to ride in an HOV lane without incurring a toll. The minimum currently is two, but will increase by 2017.

The improved lanes of U.S. 36, between Denver and Boulder, is one of the areas in which the HOV3 rules will kick in. Hunt said the calculus in going to HOV3 included accommodating the need for commuter buses to be able to use an express lane that was still able to move along at 45 to 50 mph during peak hours.

"We need to be able to balance all the folks who want to access those lanes," Hunt said.